A CROOK jailed for his part in a multi-million pound car ringing operation in the Midlands has been linked to an £85 million fraud in Africa.

Cops discovered Mponjoli Malakasuka’s connection to the alleged Tanzanian scam, which they believe involves public money, while probing his finances.

The 36 year-old, from Walsall, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for conspiracy to steal last July.

The court heard Malakasuka, originally from Tanzania, played a part in an elaborate fraud across the Midlands, which echoed the hit Hollywood movie Gone in 60 Seconds.

The film featured actor Nicholas Cage as a retired master car thief who returns to work to steal 50 cars with his crew in one night to save his brother’s life.

The fraud involving Malakasuka saw dozens of prestige cars such as Aston Martins, Range Rovers and BMWs stolen from wealthy areas in the Midlands and then exported in sealed shipping containers to Tanzania and Kenya.

Malakasuka was arrested in 2007 when police ran a check on his Mercedes and found it was stolen.

Following his conviction, detectives launched a financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover an estimated £1.5 million they claim he could have amassed through the crime.

It was during these inquiries that officers uncovered evidence linking him to a complex £85 million ($120m) fraud against the Government in his native Tanzania.

The international inquiry is being led by the Serious Fraud Office in London, who are working with the Tanzanian authorities.

It is understood that the investigation is centred on allegations that public funds were siphoned off from the Bank of Tanzania.

A number of people have been arrested in Tanzania over the inquiry. Police stressed the investigation was in its early stages and it is not clear what links Malakasuka has to the alleged fraud.

Members of the force’s ruling Police Authority were briefed on the case by outgoing Chief Constable Sir Paul Scott-Lee six weeks ago. In his report to the Police Authority, Sir Paul wrote: “Officers are currently assisting the Serious Fraud Officer in London and Tanzania authorities, which may lead to the man being extradited.”

Malakasuka, who tied the knot in an elaborate beach wedding in Florida in 2002, came to the UK via the US in 2004 and managed to get a temporary visa despite having a previous conviction for fraud for which he spent time in a US jail.

He was working for a Midland car parts company, earning between £17,000 and £20,000-a-year, while the scam was being carried out. Malakasuka and his associates had rented prestige high-value cars which were then reported stolen to the insurance company.

The gang also swiped luxury cars from driveways by fishing car keys through letterboxes across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, the north and London.

At least twice Malakasuka paid for two Range Rover Sports cars and then reported them stolen to claim on the insurance.

Financial Investigators from the Economic Crime Team recovered five cars in a 10-day spell in 2007, but many more were thought to have been smuggled abroad through Felixstowe or Southampton docks hidden in containers.

The racket was busted when an eagle-eyed manager with a car hire company noticed that many of the cars reported stolen had been hired using the same credit card.

He alerted police and, using a tracking device, they waited for a match to come up.

When it did, and one of the supposedly stolen vehicles was reported driving along West Bromwich High Street, police raced to the scene and caught Malakasuka at the wheel.

Financial investigator, acting Det Sgt Chris Harris, said: “It’s incredible to think a global investigation could come from such a small piece of information.

“But the rental firm smelled a rat, let us know and when we got the shout we arrested him. Then the inquiry just ran and ran.”

Malakasuka eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He was the only person convicted for the car ringing racket, but police believe he worked as part of a gang.

Malakasuka could now be deported from the UK or extradited when he finishes his sentence.

Det Sgt Harris added: “What started as an inquiry into a rented car that had not been returned spiralled into an investigation into a global fraud. Much of the international element of it has now been passed to the Serious Fraud Office, but we’re proud to say we played our part.”

Det Sgt Harris and Det Con Stefan Wociewisvz, have both been commended for their part in smashing the racket.

A spokesman for the Serious Fraud Office said they did not wish to comment on the investigation.

The east African state of Tanzania, home to Mount Kilimanjaro, remains one of the poorest countries in the world with many of its people living below the World Bank poverty line.

Unlike many African states, it has few mineral resources and relies on agriculture and tourism, to places like the wildlife-rich Serengeti national park, to boost its income, although it has had some success in wooing donors and investors.